The U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers conducted hearings on Wednesday (March 5) regarding “sanctuary city” laws in the four largest cities in the United States, questioning the mayors. These laws are being scrutinized for restricting local officials from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration regulations.
The committee invited mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City (all Democrats) to explain these laws during a televised hearing at 10 a.m.
Some mayors have defended these laws, arguing that they make all residents safer, while some state and city officials argue that the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government from compelling local officials to enforce federal laws.
Upon announcing the hearing on Wednesday, Republicans released a news video showing scenes of immigrants being arrested for violent crimes, including clips of some Democratic mayors citing local laws to protect immigrant rights.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams hopes to weaken the sanctuary city laws in New York City to cooperate with the federal government in deporting immigrants accused of serious crimes, even if they have not been convicted.
Republicans who have long criticized these laws have been leading the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, with former President Trump promising to deport more undocumented immigrants when he returned to the White House in January.
According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, in Trump’s first month in office, only 37,660 people were deported, significantly lower than the record of 57,000 individuals deported and removed on average each month during the final year of the Biden administration.
(This article is based on a report by Reuters)